UNDERRATED: Martin McDonagh

UNDERRATED: Martin McDonagh

Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Despite glowing reviews and a killer cast, "Seven Psychopaths" still underperformed at the box office, and maybe writer-director McDonagh is partly to blame for being just too difficult to sum up in a trailer. A twisted, self-aware blast led by a witty Colin Farrell, "Seven Psychopaths" is sharp enough to earn McDonagh another screenwriting Oscar nod, but he keeps being presented as something akin to an Irish Tarantino. He's so much more.

Despite glowing reviews and a killer cast, "Seven Psychopaths" still underperformed at the box office, and maybe writer-director McDonagh is partly to blame for being just too difficult to sum up in a trailer. A twisted, self-aware blast led by a witty Colin Farrell, "Seven Psychopaths" is sharp enough to earn McDonagh another screenwriting Oscar nod, but he keeps being presented as something akin to an Irish Tarantino. He's so much more. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Despite glowing reviews and a killer cast, "Seven Psychopaths" still underperformed at the box office, and maybe writer-director McDonagh is partly to blame for being just too difficult to sum up in a trailer. A twisted, self-aware blast led by a witty Colin Farrell, "Seven Psychopaths" is sharp enough to earn McDonagh another screenwriting Oscar nod, but he keeps being presented as something akin to an Irish Tarantino. He's so much more.